By Sandra Amaya, 19

” “I think I’m pregnant. I don’t know what to do!”
As a peer health counselor at Westside Women’s Health Center, I hear this phrase all the time! Imagine having to go to a clinic because you thought you were pregnant. Then imagine having to talk to an adult about your sexual experiences, or desire to stay abstinent, and why. I have found that teens prefer to talk to their peers about these issues. One of the best ways to talk to another teen who actually knows the facts is to come into the Westside Women’s Health Center’s Teen Program in Santa Monica. You are not just talking to any set of teens. We have been extensively trained and have learned about topics such as reproductive anatomy, birth control and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). We respect each individual and, most importantly, we listen and give plenty of support.

My job is to listen and give support
As part of my job at the Westside Women’s Health Center, I provide counseling in the Walk-in Pregnancy Testing Clinic, which is run by teens for teens. In my experience, it is easier to give a teen a negative result rather than a positive one. Even if the pregnancy test is negative, I still go over her options—to continue with the pregnancy, abortion, or adoption—before I give her the results. I also talk to her about her feelings and whether she wants to be pregnant. Another important part of the counseling involves educating the teen client about how to prevent premature or unsafe sexual activity. This gives me a chance to go over any questions she might have about her body, sex, birth control or STDs. I only answer the questions I am sure I know the right answer to. I direct any other questions to one of my supervisors.
The most difficult part of my experience as a peer counselor, however, is giving a teen a positive pregnancy test result. The majority of the teens that come to our clinic do not want to be pregnant. I have to prepare myself emotionally before I go into every session. Almost every time the results are positive, the client cries. I am torn between being the less emotional person, so that she feels like she has a shoulder to cry on, or crying with her because I can relate to her pain. If I cry, she may consider my tears a sign of weakness. On the other hand, she may feel like I really understand her if I express my true emotions. For most of the conversation, I just let her express her pain, frustrations, fears and doubts before I begin to talk.
One time a teen client came in with a scared look on her face. People usually have concerned looks when they come in a clinic, but hers was different. When I sat down to give her the positive result, she began to cry. She had absolutely no support from her relatives, friends or partner. She was so worried about what others would say. She could not begin to tell me how she truly felt, but her feelings showed all over her face. I cried with her that night. I did not cry because I was scared. I did not cry out of sympathy. I cried because I could not hold back the tears. I wanted to share her pain and not judge her.
My goal as a peer health counselor is to provide plenty of support and information that otherwise would not be available to teens so that they can make the best choice for themselves. I am not here to tell anyone what they should do. Each teen client that I encounter has a different set of emotions, experiences and morals. Working with so many people that have different experiences, I feel even stronger about approaching every client with an unbiased attitude.

It doesn’t get easier but I love what I do
It doesn’t get any easier to listen to teens’ problems. I never will become immune to the pain that I hear and see on a weekly basis. I have learned, however, to deal with my own feelings. I pray for my clients. I also share my pain and fears with my supervisors, co-workers and closest friends. I have learned that I have to deal with my own issues before I can help anyone else with their own. When I feel overwhelmed, I voice my concerns, deal with them and move on. I love what I do and I would not want to be doing anything else.
I have been involved in peer counseling since I was 15. Many of my friends would come to me if they had problems. I listened to them and gave them alternatives to their decisions. They always thanked me for my help. I learned how powerful listening can be.

The Westside Women’s Health Center is located at 1711 Ocean Park Blvd. in Santa Monica. The clinic is open on Thursdays from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. The phone number is (310) 450-2191, extension 230. “